Keeping 4H Teens Coming Back for More

1
Keeping 4-H Teens Coming Back for More

• Janet Fox, Kim Jones, Abby Gautreaux, and Todd
  Tarifa, Louisiana State University

2
High Quality Teen Leadership Programs What the
Research Says?

• Keep Programs Flexible (Astroth and Wingerter,
  Kleon and King)
• Empower and Provide Automony (Astroth Morland
  and Huebner)
• Exercise Good Communication (Astroth Morland
  and Wingerter, Kleon and King)
• Practice and Value Service (Astroth)

3
High Quality Teen Leadership Programs What the
Research Says?

• Take Time for Training (Astroth)
• Equal Balance Between Fun and Work (Astroth
  Wingerter, Kleon and King)
• Emphasize Experiences (Morland)
• Newcomers Mentored Helping to Understand Culture
  and Opportunities (Astroth Morland)
• Support and Affirm (Astroth)

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Dos for Working with 4-H Youth

• Involve them from the very beginning, before its
  too late for them to be a part of a meaningful
  change
• Give youth responsibility
• Take youth input seriously

5
Dos for Working with 4-H Youth

• Act as a responsible role-modelyouth will
  respect what you teach them
• Include as many youth as possible
• Be honest and stick to promises
• Think of youth oriented problems (after school
  activities, transportation)

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Donts for Working with 4-H Youth

• Dont Forget to show them the steps needed to do
  the task
• Dont Ask youth to attend meetings and not use
  their ideas
• Dont Invite the youth for image reasons
• Dont Mislead youth into thinking you can do
  something that you cant

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Donts for Working with 4-H Youth

• Dont Forget youth ideas during implementation
• Dont Set meetings at times youth cant attend
• Dont Involve youth so late in the process that
  all the decisions are already made
• Dont Use youth as a stamp of approval

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Youth and Adult Partnerships

• Youth Initiated, Shared Decisions with Adults
• Youth Initiated and Directed
• Adult Initiated, Shared Decision with Youth
• Consulted and Informed
• Assigned and Informed
• Tokenism
• Decoration
• Manipulation
• Source Youth Voice Youth Adult Partnerships
  for Service Learning, Indiana Department of
  Education

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Sharing Notes of Success
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world indeed,
its the only thing that ever has.

• Margaret Mead

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References

• Acosta, D. T. And Holt, B. A. (1991, Spring).
  Give Teens the Programs They Wantand Need.
  Journal of Extension, 291.
• Astroth, K. (1997) Beyond Resiliency Fostering
  Vibrancy in Youth Groups, New Designs for Youth
  Development, 13(4) 5-11.
• Butler, C. L. (1998). Assessing the Needs of
  4-Hers. Journal of Extension, 362.
• Huebner, A. J. (December 1998) Examining
  Empowerment A How to Guide for the Youth
  Development Professional, Journal of Extension,
  366.
• Gambone, J. V. (2002). Together for Tomorrow
  Building Community Through Intergenerational
  Dialogue. Crystal Bay, MN Elder Eye Press.
• Morland, L. (2002). Membership Retention in
  Scout Troops,University of Waterloo Senior
  Honors Essay.
• Wingerter, B., Kleon, S and King, J. (December
  1995) Understanding Adult/Teen Relations.
  Journal of Extension, 336.